This is such an important point. I read the book Nothing But a Circus recently, and the author talked about this idea - the Western world has created such an unattainable, unsustainable model of "development" and removed the rungs of the ladder that allowed countries that are now wealthy to reach the point they are at. It makes complete sense that other countries would strive frantically to catch up. It's our systems and values that need to change, more than those of lower income countries do.